Friday, October 5, 2012

F-35 software progress report

There are three major blocks of software associated with the F-35. The
Block 2 software, flying now, allows for safe operation of the jet to
the edges of the test envelope. The Block 2A software will include basic
weapons capability—what Venlet called "initial warfighting" capacity.
The full-up software is called Block 3 and will include "full
capability" of weapons and electronic warfare, he said. Block 3 "will
finish development testing in 2016 and be released to the fleet in
2017." A Block 4 version, which will include both software and hardware
changes to improve the aircraft’s performance, will constitute the first
major upgrade for the F-35. The content of that upgrade is classified,
but will likely include increased internal carriage of AIM-120 AMRAAM
radar guided missiles, among other changes.

So there you have the schedule of the upcoming software blocks.

Just as important was something VADM David Venlet said about the program in general:

Venlet told the airland panel that experts from Air
Force Materiel Command and Naval Air Systems Command have "looked me in
the eye and confirmed for me they believe we have what it takes in time
and money" to adapt to any new discoveries in flight test without
derailing the program.

"Every issue that we have in view today is very much
in the category of normal development for a fighter tactical aircraft,"
Venlet said in testimony. "Good old-fashioned engineering is going to
take care of every one of those."

Given that statement, it would appear those associated with the F-35 program feel they've identified most of the possible future problems and are pretty certain they'll be able to tweak or fix them with "good old-fashioned engineering."

Something Venlet said, however, that critics ought to pay attention too is where he points out that what's going on with the F-35 isn't at all unique or unprecedented. It is, instead, issues that are "very much in the category of normal development for a fighter tactical aircraft."

That's the point that many have been trying to point out for years to those critics who have been hysterically claiming the program was a failure.